‘Gig’ economy

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A tribunal found courier Maggie Dewhurst should be classed as a worker, not self-employed

What is the so-called “gig” economy, a phrase increasingly in use, and seemingly so in connection with employment disputes?

According to one definition, it is “a labour market characterised by the prevalence of short-term contracts or freelance work, as opposed to permanent jobs”.

And – taking opposing partisan viewpoints – it is either a working environment that offers flexibility with regard to employment hours, or… it is a form of exploitation with very little workplace protection.

The latest attempt to bring a degree of legal clarity to the employment status of people in the gig economy has been playing out in the Court of Appeal.

A London firm, Pimlico Plumbers, on Friday lost its appeal against a previous ruling that said one of its long-serving plumbers was a worker – entitled to basic rights, including holiday pay – rather than an independent contractor.

Like other cases of a similar nature, such as those involving Uber and Deliveroo, the outcome will now be closely scrutinised for what it means regarding the workplace rights of the millions of people employed in the gig economy in the UK.

Flexibility

In the gig economy, instead of a regular wage, workers get paid for the “gigs” they do, such as a food delivery or a car journey.